Forum orders Bajaj Electronics, Samsung India Electronics to compensate customer Rs. 30,000

HYDERABAD: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Karimnagar ordered Bajaj Electronics, a dealer in Electronics and Home Appliances, and Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd to pay Rs. 30,000 compensation to a customer in Karimnagar for deficiency of service.

Venkatesham had purchased a Samsung LED TV for Rs. 1,29,991 from Bajaj Electronics on October 23, 2017. Despite the significant investment and the assurances and warranties provided by the seller, Venkatesham encountered various issues with the television set.

The problems began to arise within a few months of the purchase. Initially, the panel of the television was damaged, which required repair. Subsequently, within the warranty period, the motherboard of the TV malfunctioned and had to be replaced. Even after these repairs, further complications arose, with the panel being damaged once again, just ten days prior to Venkatesham issuing a formal complaint. Despite assurances from the service staff of the seller and the manufacturer, the TV was not adequately repaired, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction on the part of the consumer.

In an attempt to resolve the matter, Venkatesham's brother, who also experienced issues with a TV purchased from the same seller, received a refund for his faulty product. However, Venkatesham's grievances remained unaddressed. After multiple visits to the seller and manufacturer, Venkatesham resorted to issuing legal notices to seek redressal for the persisting issues with the TV.

Despite attempts by the dealer and Samsung to repair the TV, the issues persisted due to which Venkatesham approached the commission seeking redressal.

The defendants, including Bajaj Electronics and Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd, denied the allegations made by Venkatesham. They argued that the seller was not liable for damages or defects beyond the initial warranty period and that the complaints were unfounded. However, Venkatesham's claim was supported by evidence, including notices issued to the defendants and the history of repairs and replacements.

The commission scrutinised the evidence presented by both parties and concluded that there was indeed a deficiency in service on the part of the defendants. Despite attempts to attribute the issues to mishandling by the consumer, the commission found that the problems with the TV were not adequately addressed, and the consumer's rights were violated.

Hence, the commission ordered Bajaj Electronics and Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd to compensate Venkatesham with Rs. 30,000 within one month, in addition to paying Rs. 5,000 as litigation costs.